BOXSCORE
MORRISVILLE, N.Y. —The Ithaca College football team suffered a 24-12 loss to Empire 8 opponent Morrisville State Saturday afternoon on Drake Field in Morrisville, N.Y.

Ithaca (4-3, 2-3 Empire 8) suffered its second straight road loss, and its third in its last four games in falling to the Mustangs (4-3, 3-3).

Senior Josh Oliver set a school record with 16 catches for 134 yards with two touchdowns, the second time in four games he has caught two receiving touchdowns. It was the second most catches in a single game by a Division III student-athlete this year. Ithaca's previous record for catches in a game at Ithaca was 13, set by Joe Palumbo against Mercyhurst on Oct. 30, 1993.

Senior Malik Morris was in on a career-high 15 tackles and also forced a fumble, and classmate Logan Murphy made 10 tackles and had a sack in the loss.

Sophomore Dan Loizos added 10 tackles, while senior Schnayder Termidor and sophomore Jordan Schemm each had eight tackles against Morrisville, which prevailed in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Ithaca was held to 14 first downs and minus-one rushing yard, while enjoying a 262-215 edge in the passing game.

Junior Wolfgang Shafer started and completed 10 of 22 passes for 90 yards before giving way to senior John D'Onofrio, who in his first appearance for the Bombers completed 18 of 38 passes for 172 yards and the two touchdowns to Oliver.

Sophomore Jared Bauer set career-highs in catches (four) and receiving yards (97), but the Bombers offense punted eight times in the loss.

Senior Brandon Steff averaged 38.2 yards on eight punts with a 56-yard kick included on the day. Ithaca, which trailed 24-0 through the first 53 minutes, closed the game with back-to-back touchdown passes from D'Onofrio to Oliver to avoid the shutout.

Ithaca, which entered the game with the nation's best red zone offense, scored touchdowns on both of its trips to the red zone and has scored at least a field goal in 24 of 25 opportunities (96 percent).

Ithaca received the opening kickoff but was forced to punt on its opening possession. The Mustangs converted a third down and drove to the Ithaca 38, but Morris forced a critical fumble. Cory Benedetto's pass was completed to Anthony Gray for 12 yards and a first down, but Morris came in and poked the ball free for Schemm, who pounced on the ball at the Ithaca 27.

The Bombers proceeded to march 43 yards on 10 plays. Shafer hit sophomore Jack Yule for eight yards on third-and-two, then the big play came when Shafer hit Bauer for a 20-yard completion on third-and-six to put Ithaca at the Morrisville 33.

But the Bombers were unable to convert a fourth down pass from the 30 and turned the ball over to the Mustangs.

The Ithaca defense stiffened and forced back-to-back punts, but the game was scoreless until the Mustangs broke through for a 16-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 7:47 midway through the second quarter.

The Bombers went into halftime trailing 6-0 after the Mustangs converted a pair of fourth downs, including a one-yard run by tailback Cristain Pena (116 rushing yards) on fourth and goal with 5:26 remaining in the opening half. Sophomore Aaron Francis broke through and blocked the extra point to keep the deficit at six.

The Bombers kicked off to start the second half but got the ball back thanks to another turnover. Benedetto completed a pass to Marcus Jackson-Conner for nine yards, but senior Dan Mancini forced a fumble that was recovered by Termidor.

The turnover set Ithaca up at the Morrisville 29, but the Bombers turned the ball over on downs.

The Mustangs used some trickery to add to their lead, scoring a touchdown on a 50-yard halfback option pass from Pena to Jackson-Conner. The two-point conversion was picked off by Morris as Ithaca trailed 12-0 with 4:25 remaining in the third.

Following another Ithaca punt, Morrisville pushed its lead to 18-0 on Pena's nine-yard run 1:14 into the fourth quarter.

The Mustangs scored their third rushing touchdown and led 24-0 after Ithaca blocked its second extra point attempt of the game. This time, Murphy broke free and blocked the kick. It was the first time Ithaca blocked multiple extra points in one game going back to at least the 2002 season.

Ithaca got on the scoreboard with 6:26 remaining in the fourth. On third down, D'Onofrio found a streaking Oliver at the five-yard line and Oliver ran into the endzone for a 19-yard score. The touchdown helped Ithaca avoid its first shutout since a 21-0 loss at Brockport Oct. 19, 2002.

D'Onofrio also found Oliver for an 11-yard touchdown strike with 41 seconds remaining, but the Bombers missed the two-point conversion pass.

Ithaca returns to action hosting Empire 8 foe St. John Fisher at 1 p.m. Saturday on Senior Day as the Bombers will honor the careers of 31 senior student-athletes.

Morrisville hosts Cortland at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Mustangs' home finale.